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St. Basil the Great Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2017-04-23
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Thomsund
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St. Basil the Great Greek Orthodox Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (281) 679-5395
  • Fax:
  • (281) 679-5397
  • Street Address:

  • 1100 Eldridge Parkway

  • Houston, TX 77077


Contact Information




Services Schedule

Sunday Orthros: 8:45 AM

Sunday Divine Liturgy: 10 AM

Weekday Liturgies: 9 AM

 

 


Past Bulletins


Hymns of the Day

Apolytikion of Great and Holy Pascha in the Plagal 1st Tone

Christ is risen from the dead, by death, trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs He has granted life.

Apolytikion for Thomas Sun. in the Grave Tone

Christ our God, You are the Life that dawned from the grave, though the tomb was sealed. Through closed doors You came to the Apostles. You are the Resurrection of all. And, You renewed us through them with an upright spirit, according to Your great mercy.

Apolytikion for Great Martyr George in the 4th Tone

Liberator of captives, defender of the poor, physician of the sick, and champion of kings, O trophy-bearer, Great Martyr George, intercede with Christ God that our souls be saved.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal 4th Tone

Though You went down into the tomb, You destroyed Hades' power, and You rose the victor, Christ God, saying to the myrrh-bearing women, "Hail!" and granting peace to Your disciples, You who raise up the fallen.
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Saints and Feasts

Thomsund
April 23

Thomas Sunday

Though the doors were shut at the dwelling where the disciples were gathered for fear of the Jews on the evening of the Sunday after the Passover, our Saviour wondrously entered and stood in their midst, and greeted them with His customary words, "Peace be unto you." Then He showed unto them His hands and feet and side; furthermore, in their presence, He took some fish and a honeycomb and ate before them, and thus assured them of His bodily Resurrection. But Thomas, who was not then present with the others, did not believe their testimony concerning Christ's Resurrection, but said in a decisive manner, "Except I shall see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into His side, I will not believe." Wherefore after eight days, that is, on this day, when the disciples were again gathered together and Thomas was with them, the Lord Jesus came while the doors were shut, as He did formerly. Standing in their midst, He said, "Peace be unto you"; then He said to Thomas, "Bring hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and bring hither thy hand, and thrust it into My side: and be not unbelieving, but believing."

And Thomas, beholding and examining carefully the hands and side of the Master, cried out with faith, "My Lord and my God." Thus he clearly proclaimed the two natures - human and divine - of the God-man (Luke 24:36-49; John 20:19-29).

This day is called Antipascha (meaning "in the stead of Pascha," not "in opposition to Pascha") because with this day, the first Sunday after Pascha, the Church consecrates every Sunday of the year to the commemoration of Pascha, that is, the Resurrection.


23_george4
April 23

George the Great Martyr and Triumphant

George, this truly great and glorious Martyr of Christ, was born of a father from Cappadocia and a mother from Palestine. Being a military tribune, or chiliarch (that is, a commander of a thousand troops), he was illustrious in battle and highly honoured for his courage. When he learned that the Emperor Diocletian was preparing a persecution of the Christians, Saint George presented himself publicly before the Emperor and denounced him. When threats and promises could not move him from his steadfast confession, he was put to unheard-of tortures, which he endured with great bravery, overcoming them by his faith and love towards Christ. By the wondrous signs that took place in his contest, he guided many to the knowledge of the truth, including Queen Alexandra, wife of Diocletian, and was finally beheaded in 296 in Nicomedia.

His sacred remains were taken by his servant from Nicomedia to Palestine, to a town called Lydda, the homeland of his mother, and then were finally transferred to the church which was raised up in his name. (The translation of the Saint's holy relics to the church in Lydda is commemorated on November 3; Saint Alexandra the Queen, on April 21.)

If April 23 falls on or before Great and Holy Pascha, the Feast of St. George is translated to Bright Monday.


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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. 4th Tone. Psalm 146.5;134.3.
Great is our Lord, and great is his power.
Verse: Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good.

The reading is from Acts of the Apostles 12:1-11.

ABOUT THAT TIME, Herod the king laid violent hands upon some who belonged to the church. He killed James the brother of John with the sword; and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread. And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people. So Peter was kept in prison; but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the Church.

The very night when Herod was about to bring him out, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison; and behold, an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the cell; and he struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, "Get up quickly." And the chains fell off his hands. And the angel said to him, "Wrap your mantle around you and follow me." And he went out and followed him; he did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened to them of its own accord, and they went out and passed on through one street; and immediately the angel left him. And Peter came to himself, and said, "Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting."


Gospel Reading

Thomas Sunday
The Reading is from John 20:19-31

On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them: "Peace be with you." When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you." And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them: "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him: "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them: "Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in His side, I will not believe."

Eight days later, His disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them, and said: "Peace be with you." Then He said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but believing." Thomas answered Him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to Him: "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe."

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.


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Wisdom of the Fathers

For great is the dignity of the priests. ... And hold them very exceedingly in honor; for you indeed care about your own affairs, and if you order them well, you give no account for others; ...
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 86, 4th Century

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General Announcements

Welcome, Father John Haby

04/23/2017

We welcome Father John Haby, parish priest at Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Corpus Christi, Texas, who will be serving the Divine Liturgy with us this Sunday.  

Father John will offer the Homily in this Sunday's Divine Liturgy.

Welcome to Saint Basil's!


2017 Stewardship Update

04/20/2017

Saint Basil Stewards are beginning to respond to the invitation to articulate their commitment in 2017! 

To Date: 138 households have returned their 2017 Stewardship Commitment Cards, pledging $180,965 in support of the ministries and life of Saint Basil's.

Additional offering commitments of $20,080 have been made in the effort to retire our parish debt!

100% Household Participation is our goal.

All parishioners and friends of Saint Basil's are invited and strongly encouraged to return a completed 2017 Stewardship Commitment Card this Sunday!

* 2017 St Basil's Stewardship Commitment Card can be found in the attachments seciton of this week's bulletin.


Weekday Services This Week

04/25/2017

Monday 4/25:    Divine Liturgy, 9AM, Saint Mark the Evangelist

May Saint Mark pray for us!


Bible Study - Gospel Account of Saint Mark

04/26/2017

Join your spiritual family as we engage the Scriptures each week, striving to grow in our knowledge and relationaship with the Lord through His Word!

We are now beginning our exploration of the Gospel Account of Saint Matthew,

All are welcomed to attend -- 11AM on Wednesdays in the George J. Kostas Education Building.


Scheduling Sacraments & Blessing Services

It is imperative that the scheduling of Sacraments and Blessing Services (including: memorials & 40-day blessings) be done in advance, as some desired dates may not be ecclesiastically appropriate.  Please contact the church office well in advance with scheduling requests.


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Attachments

    2017 Stewardship Card

    2017 Stewardship Card

    Respond to God's Grace by completing this 2017 Stewardship Card and returning it to the church office via email, mail or in person!


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Calendar

  • This Week at Saint Basil's

    April 23 to April 30, 2017

    Sunday, April 23

    8:45AM Orthros

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy

    3:00PM Sophie Hatzidakis - Hall Rental

    Tuesday, April 25

    9:00AM Divine Liturgy: Saint Mark the Evangelist

    12:00PM SE Texas Orthodox Clergy Association Meeting

    Thursday, April 27

    11:00AM Spaghetti Lunch $8

    6:00PM Wedding Rehearsal

    Saturday, April 29

    10:30AM Baptism

    3:00PM Wedding

    Sunday, April 30

    8:45AM Orthros

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy

    11:15AM 40-day Memorial - Evangelia Kalatzakis

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